By Olawunmi Ashafa

President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania has unveiled plans to revitalise the country’s livestock sector to reduce reliance on food imports for the sustainability of the economy.

He disclosed this on Tuesday at the just-concluded Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

He said that the livestock sector contributes roughly 11 per cent to Mauritania’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with about 70 per cent of the population relying on it for income.

He claimed that Mauritania, home to one of Africa’s largest livestock populations, boasts of 2.3 million cattle, 14.6 million sheep, 9.4 million goats, and 1.5 million camels.

The President hinted that the sector is the second largest employer with 11 per cent of the labour force, food security, nutrition, and income generation.

“Mauritanian meat, prized for its grass-fed qualities, holds significant export potential.

The President recalled that over 750,000 herds of cattle were exported to Senegal and The Gambia, generating an estimated 120.2 million dollars in 2021.

He, however, added that with its vast potential, the sector is faced with challenges such as low productivity, limited processing and vulnerability to climate change.

“These issues have necessitated heavy imports, with the country spending 80.6 million dollars on dairy products, 31 million dollars on poultry, and 31 million dollars on eggs in 2021, he hinted.

To overcome these challenges, Ghazouani said that the government had launched the Inclusive Livestock Sector Development Programme in the Awkar Zone – Phase 1.

The Awkar Programme, according to him, aims to enhance agropastoral resources, improve food and nutritional security, strengthen livelihoods against climate change, modernise livestock management and processing systems, and promote youth and women’s entrepreneurship.

The programme, he said, would focus on development of transformative infrastructure, increased livestock productivity, enhanced processing and marketing, promotion of youth and women businesses, and building resilience to climate change.

According to him, the estimated cost of the project stands at UA 21.408 million, with the African Development Bank contributing UA 18.3 million, representing 85.48 per cent.

The programme targets over 100,000 direct beneficiaries and indirectly benefits over 334,000 individuals.

The initiative includes vocational training for youth, support for women entrepreneurs, and improved health and education infrastructure in local communities.

Since 2021, the African Development Bank has been a leading partner in transforming Mauritania’s livestock sector, according to available record.

Looking ahead, Mauritania plans to present the Awkar Programme at a donors’ roundtable in Paris in April 2025, to further enhance exports of its red meat to reduce dependency on imported dairy products.

Ghazouani reaffirmed his commitment to fostering inclusive and sustainable development through transformative initiatives like the Awkar Programme, ensuring long-term benefits for Mauritania’s economy and its people. (NAN)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran